Reed William Nielsen, 75, passed away on January 22, 2025, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, after battling leukemia for nearly a year. He was born on September 26, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ray and Shirley Nielsen. Reed was the eldest of seven children, with two brothers and four sisters.

At age six, his family relocated to a farm in Emmett, Idaho. During Reed's 7th grade year, the family moved to Pasco, Washington, then Multnomah, Oregon, and eventually Hillsboro, Oregon, where he attended school until his junior year. They later settled in Simi Valley, California, where Reed graduated from Simi Valley High School.

During high school, Reed participated in football, basketball, track, and cross-country. Summers and the period after high school were spent working for his grandfather, James Reed, a road builder, where he gained valuable experience in operating construction equipment and engaging in construction work.

Reed served a 2-year, 3-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Brazil North Mission, where he first met Donna Kendall, who was also serving as a missionary. They later reconnected at Brigham Young University in a Portuguese class they were both taking. Reed asked Donna on a date—and even invited her on a second date before the first one had taken place! After they had gone out a few times, and hearing Donna express frustration about another suitor, Reed proposed by saying, "Well, do you need a reason to get out of a date? How about we just get married?" Donna recalled, "It was a beautiful spring day, the sun was shining, and birds were singing, and I knew that I would remember this day for the rest of my life," so she said, "Yes."

After they were married in the Salt Lake temple, Reed spent two years at BYU, then went to Arizona State University, where he earned a degree in Construction Management. He then began a career with Bechtel, an engineering and construction company, which took the family all over the United States and beyond. They lived in Holbrook, Arizona; San Clemente, California; Nephi, Utah; King City and Concord, California; and Oil City, Pennsylvania. After that they returned to California, first to Placentia, then Concord again, and then to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Finally in 2001, looking for a change after a lifetime of relocation and travel and moving the family every few years, Reed resigned from Bechtel, and they moved back to Arizona where he earned a master's degree in Construction Management from ASU. After this they moved to Virginia where he entered a PhD program at Virginia Tech.

In 2005, Reed was offered a position at BYU-Idaho in the Construction Management Department, prompting a move to Rexburg, Idaho, where he taught until his retirement in 2016. In 2019, Reed and Donna returned to Brazil to serve another mission for the Church, documenting the construction of the Belém Brazil Temple as part of a special projects group.

Reed was deeply dedicated to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in numerous leadership and teaching positions, including as bishop three times and as a counselor in a stake presidency. His faith, service, and love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ were evident throughout his life.

Reed enjoyed sports, especially watching games, playing golf, and racquetball. He also loved reading, camping, and spending time with his family.

Reed is survived by Donna, his wife of over 53 years; their six children: AnaMarie (Rodney), William (Nikki), Kendall (Norma), Reed (Eva), David (Skij), and Todd; 31 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

In the end he was sad to leave us, but he was also looking forward to meeting his parents and grandparents again. We are grateful for the legacy he left us of church service, honesty, integrity, hard work, and dependability. "We love you and will miss you, Dad, but we know we will see you again!"

A viewing for friends and family will be held on Sunday, January 26, from 5:00–6:30 PM at Flamm Mortuary (61 North 1st East, Rexburg, Idaho). Funeral services will take place on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Rolling Hills Ward church building (387 South 4th East, Rexburg). Interment will follow at Sutton Cemetery (841 Sutton, Rexburg).

Service will be broadcast at: https://my.gather.app/remember/reed-nielsen